A/HRC/36/48 64. Assistive products are primarily targeted at high-income markets. To avoid creating a wider divide and ensure that everyone has equal access to technological development regardless of their place of residence, North-South collaboration in terms of knowledge transfer, research and technical and economic assistance is essential. Low-income countries should be guided in accessing and developing assistive and robotics technology and in planning their deployment on the ground through market, procurement, service provision and training policies. 5. The right to liberty and security 65. Technology is increasingly used as an alternative to physical or chemical restraint (i.e. through medication). Setting boundaries for people with cognitive impairments to roam safely is, for instance, part of dementia care.13 Electronic bracelets and GPS systems are used as a substitute for locked doors or chemical sedation. 66. While a number of national laws permit such practices of deprivation of liberty on the grounds of actual or perceived impairment, notably when the individuals in question are deemed dangerous to themselves or others, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities established that the right to liberty and security of persons with disabilities is absolute. According to the Committee, such practices are discriminatory in nature and amount to arbitrary deprivation of liberty. 14 67. Rather than restricting their rights, assistive devices should therefore provide older persons with cognitive impairments the support necessary to enable them to exercise their rights. Alternatives to deprivation of liberty and restraints for older persons suffering from dementia may include multi-sensory environments, augmented reality and support escorts. 15 68. Another central aspect is that the older person should retain control over the use of technology. If the person prefers not to use technology or feels overly restricted, alternative measures must be provided. 6. Participation in social and public life 69. Participation is a core human rights principle and also a requisite of a human rightsbased approach. The United Nations Principles on Older Persons also recognize that older persons should participate actively in the formulation and implementation of policies that directly affect their well-being (principle 7). 70. As a right, participation has also been enshrined in the core human rights instruments, notably in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (art. 21), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (art. 25) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (art. 15). Participation and inclusion are principles that permeate the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (art. 3) and are protected under dedicated articles about public and cultural life (arts. 29-30) and about implementation and monitoring mechanisms (arts. 4 and 33-35). 71. Assistive and robotics technology can facilitate older persons’ participation in decision-making, through online polls and surveys and improved access to information about social and political developments in their community, help them access voting stations or enable remote consultation with government bodies. Moreover, they can assist older persons to take part in leisure activities, and access online shopping and government 13 14 15 Arlene Astell, “Technology and personhood in dementia care”, Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, vol. 7, No. 1 (2006), pp. 15-25. Guidelines on article 14 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: the right to liberty and security of persons with disabilities. Jane Tilly and Peter Reed, “Falls, wandering, and physical restraints: a review of interventions for individuals with dementia in assisted living and nursing homes”, Alzheimer’s Care Today, vol. 9, No. 1 (2008), pp. 45-50; Sherry Markwell, “Long-term restraint reduction: one hospital’s experience with restraint alternatives”, Journal Nursing Care Quality, vol. 20, No. 3 (2005), pp. 253-260; and Eileen M. Sullivan-Marx, “Achieving restraint-free care of acutely confused older adults”, Journal of Gerontological Nursing, vol. 27, No. 4 (2001), pp. 56-61. 13